Walwyn Pushes for Residency Ban, Instant Vehicle Seizure in Litter Crackdown

Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has demanded that people convicted of littering be barred from obtaining residency or Belonger status, and that derelict vehicles be seized immediately rather than after a 21-day notice period.

Addressing the House of Assembly on Thursday, October 22, Walwyn highlighted the accumulation of abandoned cars, waste oil and discarded appliances across neighbourhoods as the tourism season begins. He argued that the territory's marketing as a luxury destination clashed with the reality on the ground.

"We go out and we advertise that we are a luxury destination. We say it with our mouths, but the actions do not support what we say," Walwyn said.

Walwyn proposed that anyone applying for residency or Belonger status with a littering history should be rejected. For people born in the territory, he suggested enforcement similar to traffic violations, citing the $500 parking fine as a model for the severity needed.

On the removal of abandoned vehicles, Walwyn rejected the current requirement for advance notification. "I wouldn't have given you no notice at all. For the minute you drop it down, I'm picking it up, because there's no reason for it to be there," he said.

The legislator detailed specific problems: waste oil pooling near bins throughout town, appliances like refrigerators and stoves left overnight, and businesses that paid for disposal but dumped rubbish at the nearest receptacle instead. He also criticised the green bins system and urged the Government to study Bermuda's approach.

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn shared Walwyn's frustration, describing the territory as filthy and questioning whether its actual appearance matched its standing as a premium tourism destination. Penn pointed to Trellis Bay as a particular concern, noting old vehicles, pallets, cement bags and used oil from boats and restaurants.

Penn said the Opposition had sought supplementary funding to transfer to the Tourist Board for cleanup. He noted that previous administrations had accomplished more with smaller budgets, and questioned results given the current half-billion-dollar budget.